Feargal Quinn (Independent)

We must be careful not to do that. We need optimism but also realism. Things have changed in the 25 years to which the ESRI report refers. We no longer have control of our interest rates in the way that we had control of our currency 25 years ago. We have greatly benefited from the euro and control from the European Central Bank but we do not have our own control any longer. We must debate these changes and very soon.

In its programme for Government the Government included a referendum for children's rights. The Minister of State for Children, Deputy Barry Andrews, seemed to suggest last week that such a referendum might not take place. I do not know if there has been a change of mind and perhaps it makes a lot of sense to solve this problem, or attempt to do so, by legislation rather than by referendum. I ask the Leader if we might have a debate on this issue. It is under discussion at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children but I believe it is also worthy of debate in this House.

As an employer for many years, I would have liked to have known about what is called "soft" information. I had not heard the term before but soft information applies to grave doubts about the suitability of persons to be in charge of children although they may not necessarily have been found guilty of an offence. An employer would like to know there are such doubts. I can understand the difficulty that arises and it is worthy of debate. We are here to protect children's rights and to determine the best way of doing so. There is not full agreement between the different parties but it is possible to achieve, be it by way of referendum or legislative change.